Assembly, such as a crane hook



April 20, 1955 J. P. BOTTEN ASSEMBLY, SUCH AS A CMNE HOOK Filed Sept. 19, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 8 2 b 2 2, 2 c 2 n. 2 2 4 2 o 4 2 l 3 3 6 0 k2 5 as FIG.|

INVENTOR.

JOHN P. BOTTEN WyZ j' 'ATTORNE April 20, 1965 J. P. BOTTEN 3,179,376

ASSEMBLY, SUCH AS A CRANE HOOK Filed Sept. 19, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3 Fl 6. 4

INVENTOR. QH P. BQTTEN ATTO'RNE United States Patent Office 3,179,376 Patented Apr. 20, 1965 3 179 376 ASSEMBLY, such is A CRANE noon John P. Botten, Rocky River, Ohio, assignor to The Owen Bucket Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of hro Filed Sept. 19, 1962, Ser. No. 224, 809 10 Claims. (Cl. 254-492) The present invention relates to an assembly for exerting a pulling force, such as a crane hook.

An obiect of the present invention is to provide a sheave block having a cable reeved thereover with said cable adapted to be dead-ended either on or off said block and constructed so that the pulling forces exerted a sheave block for a crane hook (or similar pulling force exerting mechanism) characterized by its inexpensive manufacturing cost, ease of assembly of its component parts, structural simplicity, strong and sturdy nature, long Wear life, ease of operation, and low operating cost.

These and other objects of the present invention will become more fully, apparent by reference to the appended claims as the following detailed description proceeds in reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the assembly with the cable dead-ended on the sheave block frame;

FIG. 2 is an exploded and disassembled view of the component parts of the assembly with the cable removed therefrom;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the assembly in FIG. 1 with the cable dead-ended off the sheave block;

PEG. 4 is a side elevation View of an assembly with the cable dead-ended on the sheave block, similar to the assembly shown in FIG. 1;

PEG. 5 is a partial bottom view of FIG. 3 with the lift hook shown in dashed lines for clarity of illustration; and

FIG. 6 is a partial bottom view of FIG. 4 with the lift hook shown in dashed lines for clarity of illustration.

The invention disclosed herein maybe used on any assembly for exerting a pulling force but is especially adapted for use in an assembly 16) having a crane hook 12, such as found on any conventional crane or other lifting mechanism.

Although a load engageable crane hook 12 is specifically shown herein, it should be readily apparent that there may be substituted for hook 12 any force exerting attachment for transmitting any force exerted by block 14 from cable 16. Such attachment would include not only hook 12 but an eye for receiving a lift chain, etc.

In the construction illustrated, block 14 includes block frame 18 having two sheaves 29, 29 mounted on frame 18 for rotation about an axis of rotation A. Axle 22 is inserted into coaxially aligned holes 18a in block frame 18, is locked therein by lock pin 24 inserted radially through an aligned hole in block frame 13 and diametrical hole 22a in axle 22 to lock axle 22 against endwise and rotational movement relative to frame 18, and has two bearings 26 with each located betweenadjacent divider walls 18!) of block frame 18 and rotatably mounting one of the sheaves 2t). Grease fitting 2t screwed into axial hole 221) in the end of axle 22, lubricates bearings 2i: by

grease supplied through grease fitting 23, axial hole 22!), and connected radial holes 220 in axle 22.

One endltia of cable 16 may be connected to and deadended, in a dead-end connector on block frame 18. Any suitable type cable dead-ended connector may be rotatably mounted on block frame 18 on axis of rotation A coaxially with sheaves Here, two different forms of connectors 36 in FIG. 1 and St) in FIG. 4 are shown. Connector 30 in FIGS. 1 and 2 has thimble 32 telescoped over axle 22 between right hand divider wall 18b and end wall 18c of block frame 18 and having grooved periphery receiving cable 16. Cable end 16:: is locked against the vertical run of the cable by one or more screw-type rope clamps 34. In FIG. 4, different type connector 36' has ring shape 38 at its lower end telescoped over axle 22 and located between right hand divider wall 131) and end wall 18c, and has wedge-type rope lock 40 (shown in outside view in FIG. 4 of the drawings) receiving the lower, dead-end 16a of cable 16,

Suitable connecting means 5% connects block frame 18 and attachment or hook 12. This means includes an attachment mounting member, here shown as rectangular plate 52, having hole 52a eccentrically located therein within which is mounted hook element 12. Hook 12 has shank 12a extending up into hole San, a washer 54 and thrust bearing 55 telescoped over shank 12a, castellated nut 56 screwed onto threads 12b on shank 12a, and lock pin 58 telescoped through diametrically aligned grooves in nut 56 and hole 120 in shank 12a. Plate 52 is located in rectangular, member-mounting recess 18 in block frame 18. Block frame 18 has shim strip 18g located along one side of recess 18 so as to displace recess 18f off center with respect to the vertically extending enter line of bloci: frame 18 in FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6.

Connecting means 50 also includes a connection between plate 52 and block frame 18. Two, parallel, spaced apart pins 669 are provided with each pin being located and assembled in axially aligned pin holes 18j and 52 respectively in block frame 18 and plate 52,as shown in FIG. 1, to lock rectangular plate 52 in recess 18f. In this assembled position, lock pins 62 are driven vertically through aligned holes 52k and dk respectively in plate 52 and in each pin 69 so as to lock pins against axial removal.

Cable end 16a of cable 16 may be dead-ended in either of two positions: (1) on cable dead-end connector 30 or 39' on block frame 18, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4; or (2) off block 14, as shown in FIG. 3, at another location, such as on the distal end of the crane boom. However, these two different cable dead-ended positions on and off block 14 cause different forces to be exerted on blocks 14 by cable 16. For example, the runs of cable 16 exert resultant force F1 halfway between sheaves 20 in FIG. 3 but exert resultant force F2 in FIG. 4. Note that force F2 is displaced to the right relative to force F1 by dead-end 16a so as to exert a force F2 on block frame 18 axially displaced along axis of rotation A from force F1. Force F1 in FIG. 4 is exerted on block frame 18 by hook 12. In FIG. 3, forces F1 and F1 are aligned coaxially and vertically on vertical pull-line M. This alignment is necessary and desirable to eliminate unnecessary wear on sheaves 29, cable 16 and on other component parts of assembly 1%; to eliminate any tendency to tip block 14; and to provide ease of pulling operation by assembly it by minimizing lateral or horizontal forces exerted thereon. However, if cable end 1611 is dead-ended on block frame 18, as shown in FIG. 4, without changing the location of hook 12 on this frame 18, force F2 will be exerted on vertical pull-line N but force F1 (located in the same position in FIGS. 3 and 4) will be laterally displaced relative thereto but in parallel relationship to force a force couple F1, F 2 will be experienced. 1

The present invention eliminates this problem by permitting hook 112 to be easily displaced to the right in FIG. 4 so that force F2 exerted by hook 12 in the new position will be aligned coaxially and vertically on vertical pull-line N with force F2 exerted by cable 16. The connecting means Stipermits selective locating of hook 12 into any of two different positions shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 during head-ending cable 16 either on block frame 18 (FIG. 4) or off block frame 18 (FIG; 3) so that force F1 or F2 exerted by hook 12 will always be selectively aligned coaxially on vertical pull-line M or N with force F1 or F2 exerted by cable 16 located in either of these cable dead-ended positions. This selective location of hook 12 is accomplished here by sequentially axially removing lock pins-62, axially removing pins 69, downwardly re- -moving plate 52 from recess 13], rotating plate 52 180 about the vertical axis determined by pull-line M or N, raising and reinserting plate 52 into recess 13 and sequentially axially reassembling pins 66 and 62 into plate 52 in this new location. FIGS. 4 and 5 show that plate '52 has been stamped with arrow 65 and block frame 18 has been stamped with reeving numbers 66 and 67 (No. 4 in FIG. 5 corresponding to the four runs of cable 16 in 'FIG. 3; No. 5 in FIG. 6'corresponding to the five runs of cable 16 in FIG. 4) to indicate by their alignment the proper position of plate 52 in recess 18 When the pins 60 and 62 and the plate 52 are removed, plate 52 can be rotated through a 180 are (as aforedescribed) so that arrow 65 is turned to No. 4 (reeving number 66) for four runs of cableas in FIG. 5 and to No. 5 (reeving number 67) for five runs of cable as in FIG. 6. Hook 12 is laterally shifted in this desirable manner because of not only the eccentric location of hole 52a in plate 52 but also the location of shim strip 18g causing recess 18 to be laterally offset. This construction provides ease of pulling operation by assembly with cable end 16a in either the FIG. 3 or the FIG. 4 dead-end position; eliminates any force couple tending to tip block 18; eliminates unnecessary wear on the component parts of assembly 19 commonly found to occur when hook 12 is fixed in a given location on its sheave block frame; permits easy removal of pins 60; and permits easy relocation of plate 52 for either cable dead-ended position.

In either position, hook 12 is easy to use and freely pivotsin hole 52a. Hole 52a is always located on vertical pull-line M or N corresponding with the existing cable dead-end position. This hole 5211 provides a pivot so that hook 12 can be pivoted freely on this pull-line as an axis relative to block frame 18 by the load on hook 12.

Block 14 is also free to be swung on cable 16 by the load on hook 12. This is true because sheaves 2t rotate about axis of rotation A extending perpendicular with respect to pull-line M or N through which the load on hook 12'acts.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive with the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended'to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by US. Letters Patent is: t

1. An assembly for exerting a pulling force, comprising (a) a block including (1') a block frame, and (2) at least one sheave rotatably mounted on said frame for rotation about an axis of rotation, (b) a cable reevedaround said sheave, (0) one end of said cable being dead-ended (1) either off said block (2) or ona cable dead-end connector on said block frame with said cableexerting a force on said block frame axially displaced along said axis of rotation,

(d) a force exerting attachment for transmitting any force exerted by said block from said cable, and (e) connecting means between said block frame and said attachment selectively locating said attachment in different positions during dead-ending said cable on or off said block so that the force exerted by said attachment will always be selectively aligned coaxially on a pull-line with the force exerted by said cable located in any cable dead-ended position,

(7) so as to provide ease of pulling operation by said assembly and to eliminate unnecessary wear on any component part thereof,

(g) said connecting means including an attachment mounting member,

(12) said attachment mounting member having an element hole eccentrically located therein,

(1') one of the component elements, including said block frame and said attachment, being secured in said element'hole to said member,

( said member being a rectangular plate,

(k) said attachment being said element mounted in said element hole in said plate,

(I) said connecting means including a rectangular, member mounting recess in said block frame for receiving said rectangular plate, and

(m) said connecting means including a pair of parallel, spaced apart pins and axially aligned pin holes for each pin in said plate and block frame assembled together to lock said rectangular plate in said recess in either of two different positions for aligning said force exerted'by said attachment coaxially on said pull-line with the force exerted by said cable located in either cable dead-ended position,

(n) so as to permit easy removal of the pins and relocation of the plate for either cable dead-ended position. a 2. As assembly for exerting a pulling force, comprising (a) a block including (1) a block frame, and (2) at least one sheave rotatably mounted on said frame for rotation about an axis of rotation,

(b) a cable reeved around said sheave,

(0) one end of said cable being dead-ended (1) either olf said block (2) or on a cable dead-end connector on said block frame with said cable exerting a force on said block frame axiallydisplaced along said axis of rotation,

(41) a force exerting attachment for transmitting any force exerted by said block from said cable, and

(2) connecting means between said block frame and said attachment selectively locating said attachment in different positions during dead-ending said cable on or off said block so that the force exerted by said attachment will always be selectively aligned coaxially on a pull-line with the force exerted by said cable located in any cable dead-ended position,

(1) so as to provide ease of pulling operation by said assembly and to eliminate unnecessary wear on any component part thereof,

(g) said connecting means including an attachment mounting member,

(h) said attachment mounting member having an element hole eccentrically located therein,

(1) one of the component elements, including said block frame and said attachment, being secured in said element hole to said member,

(i) said element hole being located on said pull-line to provide a pivot with the element located therein, (1;) so that said force exerting attachment can pivot on the pull-line as an axis relative to said block frame.

3. An assembly for exerting a pulling force, comprising (a) a block including (1) a block frame, and (2) at least one sheave rotatably mounted on said frame for rotation aboutlan axis of rotation, (b) a cable reeved around said sheave, one end of said cable being dead-ended (1) either 013? said block (2) or on a cable dead-end connector on said block frame with said cable exerting a force on said block frame'axially displaced along said axis of rotation,

(d) a force exerting attachment for transmitting any force exerted by said block from said cable, and

(2) connecting means between said block frame and said attachment selectively locating said attachment in different positions during dead-ending said cable on or oil said block so that the force exerted by said attachment will always be selectively aligned coaxially on a pull-line with-the force exerted by said cable located in any cable dead-ended position,

(f) so as to provide ease of pulling operation by said assembly and to eliminate unnecessary wear on any component part thereof,

(g) said connecting means including an attachment mounting member,

(it) said attachment mounting member having an element hole eccentrically located therein,

(1') one of the component elements, including said blocs frame and said attachment, being secured in said element hole to said member,

' (i) said force exerting'attachrnent comprising a load engageable hook,

(k) said element hole being located on said pull-line and retaining said hook so as to provide a pivot with the hook therein,

(1) so that said hook can pivot about the pull-line as an axis relative to said block frame.

4. An assembly as set forth in claim 3, with (a) said cable deadend connector bein rotatably mounted on said block frame on said axis of rotation coaxially with said sheave,

(b) said axis of rotation being perpendicular with respect to said pull-line,

(c) said member being a rectangular plate,

(d) said attachment being said element mounted in said element hole in said plate,

(2) said connecting means including a rectangular,

member-mounting recess in said block frame for receivin said rectangular plate, and

(f) said connecting means including a pair of parallel, spaced apart pins and axially aligned pin holes for each pin in said plate and block frame assembled together to lock said rectangular plate in said reing (a) a block including (1) a block frame, and

(2) at least one sheave rotatably mountedon said frame for rotation about an axis of rotation, ('0) a cable reeved around said sheave,

(0) means for operatively connecting said cable in two different cable positions to said block so that said cable exerts in these positions a force on said block frame axially displaced along said axis of rotation,

(d) a force exerting attachment for transmitting any force exerted by said block from said cable,

(e) connecting means between said block frame and said attachment selectively locating said attachment in either of two different attachment positions corresponding respectively to said cable in each of said cable positions so that the force exerted by said attachment in any attachment position will always be selectively aligned coaxially on a pull-line with the force exerted by said cable located in the corresponding cable position, i

(f) so as to provide ease of pulling operation by said assembly and to eliminate unnecessary wear on any component part thereof,

(g) said connecting means including an attachment mounting member,

(It) said attachment mounting member having an element hole eccentrically located therein, and

(i) one of the component elements, including said block frame and said attachment, being secured in said element hole to said member,

(j) said'member being a rectangular plate,

(k) said attachment being said element mounted in said element hole in said plate,

(I) said connecting means including a rectangular,

member-mounting recess in said block frame for receiving said rectangular plate, and

(m) said connecting means including a pair of parallel, spaced apart pins and axially aligned pin holes for each pin in said plate and block frame assembled togetlierto lock said rectangular plate in said recess in any of two different positions for aligning said force exerted by said attachment coaxially on said pull-line with the force exerted by said cable located in either cable position,

(n) so as to permit easy removal of the pins and relocation of the plate for either cable position.

6. An assembly for exerting a pulling force, comprising (a) a block including (1)- a block frame, and

(2) at least one sheave rotatably mounted on said frame for rotation about an axis of rotation,

(13) a'cable reeved around said sheave,

(c) means for operativelyconnecting said cable in two difierent cable positions to said block so that said cable exerts in these positions a force on said block frame axially displaced along said axis of rotation,

(d) -a force exerting attachment for transmitting any force exerted by said block from said cable,

(e) connecting means between said block frame and said attachment selectively locating said attachment in either of two different attachment positions cor responding respectively to said cable in each of said cable positions so that the force exertedby said attachment in any attachment position will always be selectively aligned coaxially on a pull-line with the force exerted by said cable located in the corresponding cable position,

(3) so as to provide ease of pulling operating by said assembly and to eliminate unnecessary Wear on any component part thereof,

(g) said connecting means including an attachment 7, An assembly for exerting a pulling force, comprising (a) a block including (1) a block frame, and (2) at least one sheave rotatably mounted on said frame for rotation about an axis of rotation,

(b) a cable reeved around said sheave,

(c) means for operatively connecting said cable in two different cable positions relative to said block so that said cable exerts in these positions a force on said block frame axially displaced along said axis of rotation.

(d) a force exerting attachment for transmitting any force exerted by said block from said cable,

(2) connecting means between said block frame and said attachment selectively locating said attachment in either of two different attachment positions corresponding respectively to said cable in each of said cable positions so that the force exerted by said attachment in any attachment position will always be selectively aligned coaxially on a pull-line with the force exerted by said cable located in the corresponding cable position,

(1) so as to provide ease of pulling operation by said assembly and to eliminate unnecessary wear on any component part thereof,

(g) said connecting means including an attachment mounting member,

(h) said attachment mounting member having an element hole eccentrically located therein, and

(i) one of the component elements, including said block frame and said attachment, beieng secured in said element hole to said member, (i) said force exerting attachment comprising a load engageable hook, (k) said element hole being located on said pull-line and retaining said hook so as to provide a pivot with the hook therein,

(I) so that said hook can pivot about the pull-line as an axis relative tosaid block frame.

8. An assembly as set forth in claim 7, with (a) said first mentioned means for operatively connecting said cable in two ditferent positions including one end of said cable being dead-ended either off said block in one cable position or on a cabledeadend connector on said block in the other cable position, i v I (b) said cable dead-end connector being rotatably mounted on said block frame on said axis of rotation coaxially with said sheave,

(c) said axis of rotation being perpendicular with respect to said pull-line, v I

(d) said member being a rectangular plate,

(e) said attachment being said element mounted in said element hole in said plate,

(1) said connecting means including a rectangular,

member-mounting recess in said'block frame for receiving said rectangular plate, and (g) said connecting means including a pair of parallel, spaced apart pins and axially aligned pin holes, for each pin in said plate and block frame assembled together 'tolock said rectangular plate in said recess in any of two different positions for aligning said force exerted by said attachment coaxially on said pull-line with the force exerted by said cable located 7 different cable positions relative to said block so that said cable exerts in these positions a force on said block frame axially displaced along said axis of rotation,

(d) a force exerting attachment for transmitting any force exerted by said block from said cable,

(e) connecting means between said block frame and said attachment selectively locating said attachment in either of two different attachment positions corresponding respectively to said cable in each of said cable positions so that the force exerted by said attachment in any attachment position will always be selectively aligned coaxially on a pull-line with a the force exerted by said cable located in the corresponding cable position, 7

(1) so as to provide ease of pulling operation by said assembly and to eliminate unnecessary wear on any component part thereof,

g) said first mentioned means for operatively connecting said cable in two different positions including one end of said cable being dead-ended either off said block in one cable position or on a cable deadend connector on said block in the other cable position,

(h) said cable dead-end connector being rotatably mounted on said block frame on said axis of rotation coaxially with said sheave, and

(i) said axis of rotation being perpendicular with respect to said pull-line.

10. An assembly for exerting a pulling force, comprising (a) a block including (1) a block frame, and (2) at least one sheave rotatably mounted on said frame for rotation about an axis of rotation,

(12) a cable reeved around said sheave,

(0) means for operatively connecting said cable in two different cable positions to said block so that said cab-1e exerts in these positions a force on said block frame axially displaced along said axis of rotation,

(d) a force exerting attachment for transmitting any force exerted by said block from said cable,

(e) connecting means between said block frame and said attachment selectively locating said attachment in either of two different attachment positions corresponding respectively to said cable in each of said cable positions so that the force exerted by said attachment in any attachment position will always be selectively aligned coaxially on a pull-line with the force exerted by said cable located in the corresponding cable position, i

(1) so as to provide ease of pulling operation by said assembly and to eliminate unnecessary wear on any component part thereof,

(g) said connecting means including an attachment mounting member,

(h) said attachment mounting member having an element hole eccentrically located therein and extending in the same direction as one of said forces for permitting lateral movement of said attachment to establish said coaxial alignment of said forces, and

(i) one of the component elements, including said block frame and said attachment, being secured in said element hole to said member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,337,341 4/20 Brink 254-,192 1,538,051 5/25 Minor 254192 1,9223 86 8/33 Minor 294-82 2,657,905 11/53 Bennett 254192 SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Acting Primary Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,179,376 April 20, 1965 John P. Botten It is hereb; certified that err ent requiring correction and that th correctedbelow.

or appears in the above numbered pate said Letters Patent should read as Column 2, line 5,

for "dead-ended" read dead-end a 1 line 8, for "30",

I second occurrence, read 30 column 3, line 13, for "head-ending" read dead-ending column 4,

line 44, for "As" read An column 7, line 11, for I "rotation." read rotation, l f being line 31, for "beieng" read Signed and sealed this 21st day of September 1965.

SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER Ailcsting Officer EDWARD J. BRENNER Commissioner of Patents 

1. AN ASSEMBLY FOR EXERTING A PULLING FORCE, COMPRISING (A) A BLOCK INCLUDING (1) A BLOCK FRAME, AND (2) AT LEAST ONE SHEAVE ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME FOR ROTATION ABOUT AN AXIS OF ROTATION, (B) A CABLE REEVED AROUND SAID SHEAVE, (C) ONE END OF SAID CABLE BEING DEAD-ENDED (1) EITHER OFF SAID BLOCK (2) OR ON A CABLE DEAD-END CONNECTOR ON SAID BLOCK FRAME WITH SAID CABLE EXERTING A FORCE ON SAID BLOCK FRAME AXIALLY DISPLACED ALONG SAID AXIS OF ROTATION, (D) A FORCE EXERTING ATTACHMENT FOR TRANSMITTING ANY FORCE EXERTED BY SAID BLOCK FROM SAID CABLE, AND (E) CONNECTING MEANS BETWEEN SAID BLOCK FRAME AND SAID ATTACHMENT SELECTIVELY LOCATING SAID ATTACHMENT IN DIFFERENT POSITIONS DURING DEAD-ENDING SAID CABLE ON OR OFF SAID BLOCK SO THAT THE FORCE EXERTED BY SAID ATTACHMENT WILL ALWAYS BE SELECTIVELY ALIGNED COAXIALLY ON A PULL-LINE WITH THE FORCE EXERTED BY SAID CABLE LOCATED IN ANY CABLE DEAD-ENDED POSITION, (F) SO AS TO PROVIDE EASE OF PULLING OPERATION BY SAID ASSEMBLY AND TO ELIMINATE UNNECESSARY WEAR ON ANY COMPONENT PART THEREOF, (G) SAID CONNECTING MEANS INCLUDING AN ATTACHMENT MOUNTING MEMBER, (H) SAID ATTACHMENT MOUNTING MEMBER HAVING AN ELEMENT HOLE ECCENTRICALLY LOCATED THEREIN, 